Filming at a 7:1 ratio would mean that for every minute of film used in the final production, seven minutes of film was shot.

So, a producer putting together a 60 second commercial to be shot on 35mm (4-perf) film, at 24fps, and a 15:1 ratio would need to order at least 1,350 feet (411.5 meters) of 35mm film. There are 16 frames in one foot of 35mm (4-perf) film. For those using 2-perf/Techniscope, just double your numbers, since 16 frames per foot becomes 32 frames per foot. And with 3-perf 35mm there are 21.333 frames exposed per foot.

The same producer making a 60 second commercial to be shot on 16mm at 30fps (for NTSC television), and a 12:1 ratio would need to order at least 540 feet (164.6 meters) of film. There are 40 frames in one foot of 16mm (including Super16 and Ultra16).

In super-8-mm film, the numbers are smaller still, so the producer would need only 140 feet (42.7 meters) of film for the same 60 second commercial at 24fps and a 7:1 ratio. There are 72 frames in one foot of Super8.